Riot police brutally disperse fans in Minsk centre

The police beat those who didn't want to leave the “hospitality zone” near the Palace of Sport.

People continued to celebrate the last day of the tournament, while Rene Fasel, the president of the ice Hockey International Federation, was delivering the closing speech of the championship at Minsk Arena. People gathered near the Palace of Sport. Winners Avenue was full with cars decorated with Russian flags – Russian fans were celebrating the victory of their national team, Nasha Niva reports.

Festive moods disappeared like smoke. Hundreds of people were ready to celebrate the victory till the morning, but the riot police began to clear the area near the Palace of Sport and force people to move to Niamiha Street. Some of those who didn't want to leave the territory were beaten.

At 3:32, riot policemen forced people out to the metro station. They called on people through a megaphone “not to violate public order, to move along and leave the hospitality zone, which needs to be cleaned”. The last fans disappeared in Minsk's predawn streets. The championship is over. Monday is the first working day without it.